Former Walmart international exec joins Newell Rubbermaid board

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ATLANTA — Ignacio Perez Lizaur, who lead Walmart's expansion into Latin America as director general Sam's Club Mexico in 1991, has joined Newell Rubbermaid's board of directors.

Perez Lizaur's 26-year career with Walmart included a series of assignments leading Walmart operations in Argentina, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Puerto Rico. His career with Walmart culminated in the position of EVP operations for the Sam’s Club division, with responsibility across 600 stores in the U.S. Upon retiring in 2010, he was appointed to Walmart’s hall of fame for his contributions to the retailer’s international development.

“Ignacio adds an important dimension to Newell Rubbermaid’s board as a top retail merchant who has built and run businesses in one of the fastest growing regions in the world,” said Michael Cowhig, Chairman of Newell Rubbermaid’s board of directors.

“Ignacio’s deep experience and knowledge of the route-to-market dynamics in the emerging markets will be invaluable to us as we expand our footprint into these high-growth geographies,” said Michael Polk, Newell Rubbermaid’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “My team and I are excited to draw on his vast perspective.”

Before joining Walmart, Perez Lizaur held several posts with the Federal Government of Mexico, including General Director of Employment in the Ministry of Labor and an economist in the Ministry of the Budget. During his tenure, he launched a joint project between the World Bank and Mexico’s state governments focused on temporary employment and training.

Perez Lizaur currently serves on several corporate and non-profit boards, including Grupo Bimbo, S.A.B. de C.V., Mexico’s largest commercial bakery operation, and the Children’s Miracle Network in the U.S. A native of Mexico City, he holds a B.S. in Economics from Mexico National University and an M.A. in Development Studies from the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England.